Work arranging system

ABSTRACT

An autofocus camera with mechanical advancement and processing of photosensitive copy whereby the operator is unable to view the location of the image on the copy. A copyboard is marked with indicia and calibration scales for accurate placement of the image on the copy sheet.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,743,310 H1930 Beidler 355/61 X 2,927,503 3/1960 Zollinger.... 355/62 X 3,295,408 1/1967 Rab 355/61 X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Wintercom Attorneys-Russell L. Root and Ray S. Pyle ABSTRACT: An autofocus camera with mechanical advancement and processing of photosensitive copy whereby the operator is unable to view the location of the image on the copy. A copyboard is marked with indicia and calibration scales for accurate placement of the image on the copy sheet.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Process camera work is normally accomplished by apparatus which is simply an enlarged and nioresophisticated version of the ordinary snapshot camera. The image is projected ontoa focusing surface and brought .to the size and position with respect to that surface as desired. Then, an unexposed sheet of film is placed in the carrier and exposed to produce the desired image. 7

With the advent of a master-making machine for.production work, set forth in U.S. application Ser. No. 627,757, the photosensitive sheet is conducted to an image plane and exposedrwithout the operatorof the machine being able to, observe the-.positioning'of the sheet or its exposure.

Prior machines have provided optical center markings for aon'ginal material positioning on a copyboard. The original material is placed on the board centered on the optical center. Then markings on the board surface indicate the degree of enlargement or reduction needed'to fit the image ontheavailable photosensitive surface.

A master preparedin such a device will have the image positioned at the top margin of the master only if 'the original material is of one specific proper size. If the original material size, or the changed in image size, causes the imagenofall short of the master topllimit, then the printing machine must be adjustedto fit the image. That is, the master cylinderyand paper feed must be adjusted to match the paperimpression position to image location.

DEFINITION For convenience of description thematerial to befcopied will be referred to .by the generally accepted term of art original material" or just original." A projectedimagemay be viewed, but not retained asa permanent record. Therefore, a developed photosensitive sheet made from that image is a hard copy of the image. ,The machine of US. application for Letters Patent, Ser. No. 627,757, is promoted as amastermaking device for electrostatic lithographic masters.- Thisin vention was created to servethat machine as its originaLpurthe-hard copy" will be referred to as a master throughout this description. Other uses will be apparent.

. SUMMARY ors rrramvam-rou This'invention is based upon first establishing an optical center on the copy ard of the machine, which center never varies as an autofocus structurechanges size of the image. Then,.the originalmaterial can be placed with respect to-the optical center around the optical center. The limits ofenlargement or. reduction whichmight be desired are then calculated, and the focus of the camera changed toproduce this desired result on the photosensitive sheet.

An advantage of this invention is that process camera work may be done by composing original material in a normally illuminated area, andthen correctly positioned in a selected size ratio onto a photosensitive surface which is positioned by apparatus ,within an enclosure out of operator view.

. An object of this invention is to calibrate a coordinate system of optical system and copyboard with respect to a specific size and formof lithographic master such that original material placed on the copyboard will be correctly positioned on the master, hidden within the process camera, leaving proper lead edges for the-lithography printing press clamps, and correctly placing the original material with respect to the lithographic machine paper gripping and side guiding devices. The advantage is that theimage will be so positioned, from one master to the other, duringvarious reductions or enlargements so. as to make unnecessary consequent paper gripping and side guiding adjustments on the lithographic, or any other type of duplicating, machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide indicia devices which produce relative enlargement and reduction indicia in a manner which enables the sequential exposure of the same photosensitive sheet under differing enlargement and reduction conditions in order to place-random size original material in proper proportion and position upon a photosensitive sheet. The advantage is that conventional camera work film developing-drying, and stripping operations are eliminated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. .1 is a side elevation of'amachine having a copyboard incorporating the principles of this invention, with a sidewall .dicia markings on the face of the board placed in accordance .shown in Figure l inorder masters, the control is actuated to move with this invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the provision of relevant markings by means of a substituted transparent sheet;

FIG. 4 is a'front viewof theprojection head only shown in Figure 1, showing a slot for insertion ofa'film transparency, and anadjustable projection lens;

.FIG. 5' illustrates a hypothetical desired electrostatic master;

FIG. 6-illustrates a hypothetical original material in the'form of acorrectly sized page of script and an oversized picture;

FIG. .7-illustrates a copyboard with the correctlysized page .of script in, place forexposure; and

FIG.-8"illustrates the use .of a substituted transparent sheet with position and size markings dictating the location and amount of reduction in size for the picture to be placed in the appropriate reserve space of the FIG. 7 exposure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE' PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is essentially a reproduction of the FIG. 1 of US. ap-

plication Ser. No. 627,757, withthe addition of a projector ment of reduced, cabinet size for the housing 10 and ability to move'the. electrostatic masters through a convenient path.

A copyboard 20,.of the type and suspension as taught in US. application Ser. No. l ,733,'has a horizontal position as that the original material may be properly arranged with operator convenience. Then; the surface of .thecopyboard 20 is rotated downwardly topress in firm contact'with the glass which formsthe object plane 12 of the autofocus 14. A manual operating lever 22 provides the operating power. This invention is directed to the.manner of determining where to place the original material onthe surface ofthe copyboard 20 in order to cause the original material to beproperly positioned on the master held by the conveyor l8, and to permit the multiple exposure of various pieces of original material, some of wliichmay be of a size not capableof being projected at the same ratio of 'size as 'the balance of the original material.

A switch24 is carried on a standard 26 which is in turn mounted upon the mirrorl6 but is shiflable with respectto its relative position upon the'mirror. The switch 24 is in cOntrol of the drive operating the conveyor 18. .Whenever a master strikes the switch the conveyoris brought to a halt and thus the master is held in the position determined by the switch 24. For short masters, an exterior control (not shown) causes the standard 26 to move close to the mirror 16. For longer the standard 26 farther awayfrom the mirror. Hence, the masters are all centered on the optical center of the opticalsystem regardless of their overall length, within the limits designed into the machine.

A supply of masters is placed in a hopper 28 and is fed upon demand through a charger 30 to the vacuum conveyor 18. Thus, the master is electrically charged just prior to being exposed. After an exposure is completed, the switch 24 is rendered inoperative Land the master is caused to be conveyed to a toner station 32 and then through suitable guides to a conveyor 34 and a fuser 36. The completed fused master is then delivered up to a station 38 where the operator is able to obtain the finished product.

Referring now to FIG. 2, which is a plan view of the face of the copyboard, the fundamental concept of the relationship in placement of original material on the board will be explained. At all times, it must be kept in mind that original material, if it is not the exact size desired for the master, must be enlarged or reduced. Whenever the optical system is caused to project an image of a size which differs from the size of the original material, if the image cannot be viewed before exposure is to be made, then its location must be otherwise determined. The preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated, causes the autofocus device to operate on a fixed optical center, which center is indicated by the small circle 40, shown on Figure 2.

The plurality of comer markings radiating along a center line from the center 40, and marked with numbers ranging from 150 to 50, represent arbitrary unifonn comer marks for convenience. As an example, if the hard copy is of a size which will require a I50 percent increase in size in order to be placed on an S'bXI 1 master, then if that original material were plotted on the copyboard in the position it must assume in order to be enlarged and properly projected on the master, it will be found that the top edge of the original material will lie with its comer in the comer marking indicated by numeral l 50 and its right'edge will lie on a point 41.

Then, a line drawn from optical center 40 through the point 41 is a reference line which will be found to be common to all size projections. That is, assume that the original material is exactly the correct size, for example, and that its upper lefthand corner is placed in the comer marking I00." Then, the right-hand comer of that sheet will be found to lie on the line 42 at a point 43. The line 42 may then be projected to any convenient border area and a scale 44 of markings produced to aid in future placement of original material. The scale is arbitrary in absolute size, being larger the farther it recedes from the center 40. However, there is no required distance relationship with respect to the line 42. It is placed on the border as indicated in FIG. 2 solely for the purpose of convenience to get that scale out of the working area and make it accessible for operator use.

Further, the line 42 is preferably only an imaginary line, being actually provided by a temporary straight edge tool. The tool is then placed from the center to the point on the scale which indicates the desired margin. It may be desired to confine the image to a 6-inch width, for example, in order to fit a desired print size, even though the master would accept a wider print sheet.

As a further explanation, if a master image of a size to print out on an 8% inch page is required, then regardless of the master width, the line 42 will establish the proper position for the upper right-hand corner of a rectangular area in which the original material must fall. Then, the original material is moved upwardly until its top edge fits within one of the magnification marks and the line 42. The image ratio is then established to that size, and the image will be placed to the left and top margin limits of the master, and within the right-hand size limit.

Likewise, a scale 144 on the left margin of the board is used to indicate length limitations. A line 44 which extends from the center 40 to the scale 144 delineates all copy which may be located within the length limits. The line 44 is chosen to illustrate the selection of a line indicating the border for paper I l inches long. At any given magnification requirement, whether it is one-to-one projection as the 100 mark suggests in the phantom copy on Figure 2, or whether it is either larger or smaller, the copy may not exceed in length the position which will place its lower comer below the line 44. If it does extend below the line, that portion below a line lateral to the intersection point will not be projected onto a master for duplication on an 8% inch X l 1 inch sheet.

If a longer master is located in the machine, for example if a 12-inch or 14-inch master is employed, then the line 44 is simply moved down the scale to that dimension indicia, and original material which has a comer intersecting at or above the line will be reproduced on the longer master.

The relationship of the series of corner marks is that which may be calculated or empirically discovered, and represents the size of an object which may be projected at a given percentage of enlargement or reduction upon a selected master.

The permanent markings shown in FIG. 2 must be a color which will not be reproducible on the electrostatic master. Otherwise, the margin markings outside the original material would be reproduced on the edges of the master where markings are not to be made. Certain colors do not reflect a wave length of light which will discharge an electrostatic master. Furthermore, pigments which are substantially invisible to white light are available which will fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Then the board may be irradiated by ultraviolet light while composition is taking place, and the light removed during actual exposure.

However, the markings shown in FIG. 2 have certain limitations in that the sizes indicated are in arbitrarily chosen increments, and any original material that falls between those increments requires operator skill in interpolation. Accordingly, an alternate system of providing correct locating marks operates by means of an overhead projector 45. See FIG. 4. Projector 45 may employ a series of different slide transparencies, each representing one of the arbitrary size markings on the FIG. 2, or a single transparency may be employed and the projector equipped with a lens of changeable focal length. The projector shown in FIG. 4 provides for either use. An opening 46 is provided to receive a transparency in the position normal for photographic projectors. If the pro jector is to be employed with a series of fixed size transparencies; then no change of focal length of the lens is needed. However, for a single size transparency, a handle 47 is provided to operate a conventional lens 48 which enables shortening and lengthening of the focal length for projection through a series of sizes. Then, a scale 49 is provided adjacent to the handle 47 to indicate the ratio of enlargement or reduction to which the autofocus system 14 must be set in order to bring the particular original material within the limits of the selected master size. The image projected by the projector 45 is employed precisely in the manner described with respect to the fixed scale in FIG. 2.

Another system for providing an alternate to the plurality of individual marks is shown in FIG. 3. A transparent sheet 50 is positioned over the face of the copyboard by means of two pins 51 which cooperate with guide holes in the sheet 50. The sheet 50 is also altered in that a full grid is provided which represents l-inch square modules or other convenient measuring system, on the projected image whenever the autofocus system 14 is properly adjusted. One sheet 50 is provided for each magnification size desired. The sheets may be about half the original material size, for ease in the positioning of original material. The operator lifts one edge of the sheet, and by holding the lower portion of the original material, is able to move the copy until it registers under the sheet in its proper location. Any number of such magnification sheets are possible, but a range from 50 percent reduction to percent magnification, as shown in Figure 2, is a practical range.

The sheets 50 are employed somewhat differently than the permanent markings of FIG. 2 in that the original material is placed under the transparent sheet and thus the markings are not blocked out from the operator's view. This same advantage is obtained in the projection of the pattern by projector 45. The use of the grid has the advantage of enabling the operator to visualize the precise location and relationship of the original material to other original material because the entire grid work is available in the exact size relationship which will ultimately be reproduced on the master.

After the original material has been properly positioned under the sheet 50, then the sheet is removed and the original material is adhered to the surface of the copyboard in proper location. Then, there is no concern with respect to the possible projection of locating grid patterns of the master.

In order toillustrate the use of this invention in direct composition, a series of illustrations 5 through 8 show a possible practical problem. FIG. 5 illustrates a desired pageof script 53 and'a picture 55. The script 53 in this particular illustration is the correct desired size and needs no enlargement or reduction. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the picture 55 is much too large for the available space on the master, if projected tooneto-one relationship.

In FIG. 7 the text script 53 is placed in position by any of the three described methods. A black sheet of paper 57 is placed in the comer reserved for the pictureshown in the-FIG. 6. (The black paper being illustrated by a series of shortangular lines surrounding its perimeter.) The exact number of inches in that comer spacing may beread directly from grid work on the sheet 50, or from the projector 45.

Then, the text script 53 is projected onto a master withthe black paper 57 reserving a comer which will not be photographically sensed, and therefore will not discharge therelectrostatic charge in that area of the master.

The conveyor system i 18 is caused to remain in position after the exposure in contradistinction to the prior application structure wherein the electrical system is programmed to cause the master to move out to the toning station immediately-after exposure. Because such retention in position is well within the skill of the ordinary electrical engineer, no wiring diagram isbelieved necessary to illustrate this holding feature for the machine.

'After the exposure of the script 53, the picture 55 is compared to various size sheets 50, or measured by the projection of the transparency, until one is found which will containthe picture within the number of grid spaces which representsthe reserved number of inches on the master. Then, the selected sheet is placed on the copyboard with the picture-55 in proper position such that setting the autofocus to the amount of reduction which will bring the'picture 55 into the size of the reserved spot on the master. Note that black paper 57 is then required to cover the area which represents the position of the script 53, if the script were in fact as large in proportion as the picture. The area is proportionalto the size of the picture, because reduction of everything on the face of the copyboard indicates that the black paper will also be reduced. Hence, the black paper must be of a large size in order that when the autofocus projects a reduced size of the black paper, that reduced size will be equal to the previously exposed script 53 area and not smaller.

After the black paper and picture 55 are properly located, then the sheet 50 is removed and exposure made in the normal manner. The picture 55 will then be reduced and will properly positioned in the reserved area of the master. The master is then caused to be conveyed to the toner area and fixed in the manner prescribed in order to produce a useful electrostatic master fora lithography machine.

What is claimed is:

l. A cooperative system for exposing original material onto a photosensitive master sheet, having positional markings for proper placement of image thereon comprising:

a holdersurface for a photosensitivesheet;

a copyboard for acceptance of work to be photocopied;

an optical system for focusingthe copyboard surface onto the holder surface, said optical system having a known fixed optical center located on the holder surface and copyboard surface;

means for focusing the optical systems by moving the relative positions of the holder surface, copyboard surface, and lens to produce a range of projected image sizes on said holder;

means for transporting a. photosensitive sheet into a predetermined position relative to said optical center; and

a plurality of gauge indicia markings on said copyboard related to said optical centers and sheet position such that the distance from a selected mark to the copyboard optical center point is related to the setting of the lens for one selected magnification ratio such that the selected mark onthe copyboard indicates a positional relationship of the original material to place the image in registration with the said positional markings of the master print area.

2. A system for projecting an image of original material upon a photosensitive sheet, comprising:

a copyboard surface for positioning of original material; an optical system for projecting anximage of the copyboard surface and its burden; means for focusing said systems to produce any desired size ratio of image to original material within a range; means for selecting a photosensitive sheet and transporting .the sheet into registration with the location of said .focused image; said optical system having an optical center said center intersecting said copyboard at one substantially fixed point throughoutsaid range; and size-positioning calibration markings on said copyboard surface indicating aseries of discreet maximum boundaries markings in which original material must be confined for projection at an indicated size ratio to produce an image area of a selected standard size; and a scale across said copyboard calibrated with reference to said optical center point such that a line'from the center point to a point on the scale which represents the maximum image. area of the photosensitive sheet indicates a lateral maximum position of original material that will be projected onto the sheet at the indicated projection ratio. 3. A machinefor making masters of a preselected size for lithographic printing from original material not necessarily of the desired preselected size comprising:

a closed housing of sufficient darkness for processing photosensitive master sheets; a copyboard system for positioning of original material; an optical system for projecting an image of the copyboard surface and its burden; means for focusing said system to produce a desired size ratio of image to original material within a range; means for selecting a photosensitive sheet and transporting the sheet into registration with the location of said focusedimage; said optical system having an optical center, said center intersecting said copyboard at one substantially fixedpoint throughoutsaid range; and size-positioning calibration markings on said copyboard surface indicating a series of discreet maximum boundary markings inwhich original material must be confined for projectionat an indicated size ratio to produce an image area ofa selected standard size, said boundary markings radiating "from said optical center and including a one-toone position and a series of positions other than one to one; said boundary markings providing a positional relationship for original material of any size rectangular field with a top edge such that with said optical system focused to the ratio predetermined, the entire rectangular field will be projected at the predetermined size; and .a lateral .limit scale laterally across said copyboard, said scale related to the said range such that a line from said center to amark on the scale representing the maximum width of the master sheet, and a vertical line from the intersection of said line and said top edge of a selected field size, will delineate the maximum lateral limit of the field which can be projected onto the master. 4. In a system for projecting an image as defined in claim 3. said gauge indicia markings being provided individually by a removable attachment transparent overlay sheet, with gauge the holder surface, said optical system having a known means for providing a home position of the sheet with respect fixed optical center located on the holder surface and to said board when the sheet is installed on the copyboard. copyboard surface;

a sysiem P' F S an image as defined in claim means for focusing the optical systems by moving the relasaid gauge indicia markings being Pmvided individually y P- tive positions of the holder surface, copyboard surface, tically blind colors, or pigments visible under external radiaand lens to produce a range f projected image sizes on tion stimuli. id h ld 6. In a system for projecting an image as defined in claim 3, said gauge indicia markings being provided individually by projecting the markings from a remotely positioned projector. 10

7. In a system for projecting an image as defined in claim 3, said gauge indicia markings being provided individually by projecting the markings from a remotely positioned projector which has an adjustable lens calibrated for producing a full range of markings with infinite variation within the range.

means for transporting a photosensitive sheet into a predetermined position relative to said optical center; and

a plurality of gauge indicia markings on said copyboard related to said optical centers and sheet position such that the distance from a selected mark to the copyboard opti- 5 cal center point is related to the setting of the lens for one 8. A cooperative system for exposing original material onto seleflted g g i g tg f a photosensitive master sheet, comprising: 6 copy at m p p aholder surface foraphotosensifive Sheet. the original material to place the image in registration a copyboard for acceptance of work to be photocopied; the Sand master sheet an optical system for focusing the copyboard surface onto 

1. A cooperative system for exposing original material onto a photosensitive master sheet, having positional markings for proper placement of image thereon comprising: a holder surface for a photosensitive sheet; a copyboard for acceptance of work to be photocopied; an optical system for focusing the copyboard surface onto the holder surface, said optical system having a known fixed optical center located on the holder surface and copyboard surface; means for focusing the optical systems by moving the relative positions of the holder surface, copyboard surface, and lens to produce a range of projected image sizes on said holder; means for transporting a photosensitive sheet into a predetermined position relative to said optical center; and a plurality of gauge indicia markings on said copyboard related to said optical centers and sheet position such that the distance from a selected mark to the copyboard optical center point is related to the setting of the lens for one selected magnification ratio such that the selected mark on the copyboard indicates a positional relationship of the original material to place the image in registration with the said positional markings of the master print area.
 2. A system for projecting an image of original material upon a photosensitive sheet, comprising: a copyboard surface for positioning of original material; an optical system for projecting an image of the copyboard surface and its burden; means for focusing said systems to produce any desired size ratio of image to original material within a range; means for selecting a photosensitive sheet and transporting the sheet into registration with the location of said focused image; said optical system having an optical center said center intersecting said copyboard at one substantially fixed point throughout said range; and size-positioning calibration markings on said copyboard surface indicating a series of discreet maximum boundaries markings in which original material must be confined for projection at an indicated size ratio to produce an image area of a selected standard size; and a scale across said copyboard calibrated with reference to said optical center point such that a line from the center point to a point on the scale which represents the maximum image area of the photosensitive sheet indicates a lateral maximum position of original material that will be projected onto the sheet at the indicated projection ratio.
 3. A machine for making masters of a preselected size for lithographic printing from original material not necessarily of the desired preselected size comprising: a closed housing of sufficient darkness for processing photosensitive master sheets; a copyboard syStem for positioning of original material; an optical system for projecting an image of the copyboard surface and its burden; means for focusing said system to produce a desired size ratio of image to original material within a range; means for selecting a photosensitive sheet and transporting the sheet into registration with the location of said focused image; said optical system having an optical center, said center intersecting said copyboard at one substantially fixed point throughout said range; and size-positioning calibration markings on said copyboard surface indicating a series of discreet maximum boundary markings in which original material must be confined for projection at an indicated size ratio to produce an image area of a selected standard size, said boundary markings radiating from said optical center and including a one-to-one position and a series of positions other than one to one; said boundary markings providing a positional relationship for original material of any size rectangular field with a top edge such that with said optical system focused to the ratio predetermined, the entire rectangular field will be projected at the predetermined size; and a lateral limit scale laterally across said copyboard, said scale related to the said range such that a line from said center to a mark on the scale representing the maximum width of the master sheet, and a vertical line from the intersection of said line and said top edge of a selected field size, will delineate the maximum lateral limit of the field which can be projected onto the master.
 4. In a system for projecting an image as defined in claim
 3. said gauge indicia markings being provided individually by a removable attachment transparent overlay sheet, with gauge means for providing a home position of the sheet with respect to said board when the sheet is installed on the copyboard.
 5. In a system for projecting an image as defined in claim 3, said gauge indicia markings being provided individually by optically blind colors, or pigments visible under external radiation stimuli.
 6. In a system for projecting an image as defined in claim 3, said gauge indicia markings being provided individually by projecting the markings from a remotely positioned projector.
 7. In a system for projecting an image as defined in claim 3, said gauge indicia markings being provided individually by projecting the markings from a remotely positioned projector which has an adjustable lens calibrated for producing a full range of markings with infinite variation within the range.
 8. A cooperative system for exposing original material onto a photosensitive master sheet, comprising: a holder surface for a photosensitive sheet; a copyboard for acceptance of work to be photocopied; an optical system for focusing the copyboard surface onto the holder surface, said optical system having a known fixed optical center located on the holder surface and copyboard surface; means for focusing the optical systems by moving the relative positions of the holder surface, copyboard surface, and lens to produce a range of projected image sizes on said holder; means for transporting a photosensitive sheet into a predetermined position relative to said optical center; and a plurality of gauge indicia markings on said copyboard related to said optical centers and sheet position such that the distance from a selected mark to the copyboard optical center point is related to the setting of the lens for one selected magnification ratio such that the selected mark on the copyboard indicates a positional relationship of the original material to place the image in registration with the said master sheet. 